U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on imports from China on the 1st (local time), prompting China to immediately retaliate by saying, "Tariffs should not be used to threaten other countries." They stated they would respond with "countermeasures."
A Spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce announced on their website on the 2nd that "the U.S. White House declared an additional 10% tariff on Chinese exports to the U.S., citing issues such as fentanyl (commonly known as 'zombie drug')" and expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition.
The Ministry of Commerce criticized, "The unilateral additional tariff measures by the U.S. are a serious violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules," adding that they are not only unbeneficial for resolving its own issues but also destructive to normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.
They added, "In response to the U.S.'s erroneous actions, China will file a complaint with the WTO and take countermeasures to firmly protect its rights and interests."
They further stated, "China hopes that the U.S. will view and address its fentanyl issues objectively and rationally, and that it will refrain from threatening other countries excessively with tariffs." They urged the U.S. to correct its erroneous actions and face issues based on equality and mutual respect, engage in honest dialogue, and enhance cooperation while managing differences.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that there are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars, emphasizing that the fentanyl issue cited by President Trump is "an American problem."
A Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release, "China is one of the countries that has enforced the strictest and most thorough drug prohibition policies in the world, and fentanyl is an American problem," adding that based on humanitarian principles, China has provided support for the U.S. in addressing its fentanyl issues.
They also noted, "It is widely recognized that China has engaged in extensive cooperation with the U.S. on drug prohibition and achieved significant results," and stated that the additional tariff measures are unconstructive and will inevitably affect and cause losses to future cooperation between both countries on drug prohibition.
A Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged, "China calls on the U.S. to correct its wrong actions and to maintain the favorable atmosphere that has been established in the difficult cooperation on drug prohibition between the U.S. and China, promoting stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations."
Meanwhile, on the same day, Chinese media urgently reported the news of President Trump's tariff imposition. The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that "the latest trade protection measures by the U.S. are facing widespread opposition in the international community and within the U.S.".
The social media account Newtanqin, operated by Xinhua News Agency, claimed, "This may just be an appetizer from Trump, and the real target he is preparing to swing his rod at is not Canada and Mexico, for which a 25% tariff was announced that day, nor the Eastern power (China)." It asserted that the actual target of Trump's pressure is the allied country Japan.
Newtanqin commented, "As Trump enters his second term, China will undoubtedly face shocks and tests, so it is necessary to prepare adequately, but the places that will be hit hardest are firstly the U.S. domestically and secondly its allied countries," stating that "what is meant to come will ultimately come."